AG #3 Ruddles County – 27/11/2010 - With pics

[Kegman]

Hello good beery folk,

Today I will mostly be attempting a Ruddles County, the recipe for which was found on this page here: http://www.colchesterhomebrew.co.uk/recipes.html (also a very fine homebrew shop if you’re ever in the area).

Boiled up 40l of water last night with half a campden tablet in each (water is divided between 2 vessels), tested the alkalinity this morning and compared to the last 2 attempts it’s a pretty high 0.42 on the Salifert syringe, last time it was 0.26. Treated the water with CRS and measured out the DLS into the grain and the post boil tub.


The hops for the start of boil.


My notes


Some measuring going on, sugar.


All the grain measured out. I realised just before adding to the mash tun that I'd measured out 1000g of pale malt into the plastic container instead of 100! Phew, close (wonder what adding 900g too much would have been like?).


During treatment when bringing the water to the boil I saw the mash-bag and decided it could be slung in as well as it needed sterilising.


The grain is in, lets mash!


My mash tun with the extra water in the FV on top. The lid doesn't fit too well with the mash-bag so this seals it.


Mash will be done at 11:55 so time for a cuppa in my fave Edradour mug

Documenting this on the fly and need to get the water up to 85 ready for sparging so back soon!

Kegman.

[Horatio]

Looking good!

Adding an extra 900g of pale malt would give the wort a higher OG than expected, how much higher would depend upon your mash effiency.

BTW: You don't actually need to sterilise your grain bag as it is used before the boil; anything that comes into contact with it will be boiled later so no nasties will be carried over.

Good luck with the brewday.

[Kegman]

Looking good!

Adding an extra 900g of pale malt would give the wort a higher OG than expected, how much higher would depend upon your mash effiency.

BTW: You don't actually need to sterilise your grain bag as it is used before the boil; anything that comes into contact with it will be boiled later so no nasties will be carried over.

Good luck with the brewday.

Thanks Yeah, I'm aware of that but I like to sterilise things even when I don't need too as my first AG went bad.

[Kegman]

Post mash, the temperature has dropped to about 63, usually I lose around 1 degree but it's bloody cold today, in fact it was snowing earlier so that probably didn't help.


First sparge run off, nice 'n' dark, this went back in poored gradually over the grains.


My sparging set-up, the boiler with the water at 88, the mash-tun and my new King Keg collecting the run off.


Sparge water dead on 88, get in!


My home made fly sparger in action!

Just heating up another 3l of my treated water as it's still running off quite dark and sweet. More later.

Kegman.

[Kegman]

Eek, a bit of a hitch. Just stuck the wort in the boiler and started it to boil and went outside to wash out my masher only to find the hose is frozen, I can feel frozen water inside when I bend it and nothings coming through! The problem is I use this hose for the wort cooler, time to take action!


3/4 filled the mash tun with warm water and am soaking the hose in it, hope this works! Note to self, I ferment in this vessel as well, makes sure it's sterilised after. Other note, never brew when it's this cold outside again

Kegman.

[Kegman]

Defrosting the hose worked!


Start of boil hops and DRS going in.


Give it a good paddling

[Kegman]

Boiling away, good time for a spot of lunch!


Flying yeast starter, just grabbed this from the boil, now cooling in the sink.


Hydrating the yeast.

[Kev888]

Nice to see - really warms the soul on a chilly day like this!!

Cheers
kev

[Kegman]

Nice to see - really warms the soul on a chilly day like this!!

Cheers
kev

Cheers Kev, although I have to say, "Sod doing this when it's this cold again!". Finished now though, went pretty well all-in-all, here's the last of the snaps.


Last 15 mins hops.


Giving 'em a stir. You might notice that the water level isn't too low, I've been cheekily topping it up with the spare treated water as it's been boiling.


The yeast as hydrated well, nice head forming on it.


Ten mins before the end of the boil, in goes the cooler.


...and with the cooler on and the hot water coming out I took the opportunity to clean me car


The yeast and cooled wort have had 15 mins and a good froth is building on the top.


The wort is now cool enough to take a sample, 1040, recipe suggests 1049.. hmmm. No too worried as my last was also 1040 but finished up at the right gravity in the end.


In goes the yeast, look at that slop!


Vigorously aerated.


And there she is snug and warm in the house, wish her luck!

Kegman.

[Gricey]

Liking the pics... which reminds me, I need to prep for tomorrow!

[simco999]

Great sig pic Kegman, very funny.

Will try something similar.

[Kegman]

Well it's looking good, already quite clear.

Transferred from the FV to my new King Keg today and tested the gravity, 1004 now so I make it 4.8%. It's still fermenting so it'll get stronger but I don't think it'll make the recipes target of 5.4%. Having said that, I think Ruddles County is only 4.3% anyway so not really bothered.

A great hoppy smell and taste to this one already... roll on Christmas!

[Kegman]

And the grand finale, in all it's glory

[Deebee]

Looks good. how did it taste?

As for the 9 points below estimated OG this will be due to you topping up with water during the boil.

I have done this myself but have now gotten to the point where i brew and if the wort is 1 litre or so too little .. so be it. It means it gets drunk faster and more needs to be brewed.

[Kegman]

Looks good. how did it taste?

Only fan-bloomin-tastic! My best yet TBH.

As for the 9 points below estimated OG this will be due to you topping up with water during the boil.

I have done this myself but have now gotten to the point where i brew and if the wort is 1 litre or so too little .. so be it. It means it gets drunk faster and more needs to be brewed.

LOL, I like the way your mind works My Old Speckled Hen was ready on Christmas day and I posted on here about it, someone else pointed out the low OG and suggested I calibrate my hydrometer, turns out it's 5 points out so this brew is actually 1009 which is a bit more like it.